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In brief

'Huskers may find payments in future

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Gov. Mike Johanns backs a legislative proposal to pay Nebraska football players.

"Paying the players would be above board and straightforward," he said Wednesday. "College football has become a multimillion-dollar industry that should do much better for its athletes."

A bill introduced by state Sen. Ernie Chambers would require players to be paid a stipend. It would take effect only if three other states with teams in the Big 12 Conference pass similar laws.

Chambers contends players are exploited, unable to capitalize on work that generates millions. He said NCAA rules governing money players can earn are too complex and easy to violate for small infractions. The Business and Labor Committee held a hearing on the proposal Monday, but has not taken action.

Johanns said if the bill passes the Legislature, he will sign it into law. The Legislature passed a similar bill in 1988 but it was vetoed by then-Gov. Kay Orr.

SKIING: Miller notches 1st for U.S.

Bode Miller won the giant slalom in St. Moritz, Switzerland, becoming the first American man to capture three medals in a world championship and the first with two golds. Erik Schlopy added to an outstanding day for the United States, winning bronze. It was the first time American men had two among the top three at a world championship.

"Two podiums for Americans -- we've been waiting for this a long time and for it to happen at the world championship is amazing," said Miller, who also won the combined and shared the silver in the super giant slalom.

The Americans have six medals with three races left in the championship, one behind Austria. They surpassed their best of five set in 1982.

SOCCER: No luck of draw for U.S.

The United States was drawn into the most difficult group of the FIFA Confederations Cup and will face World Cup champion Brazil. The Americans, coming off a quarterfinal finish in last year's World Cup, open against Turkey on June 19 at Saint-Etienne, France. The United States plays Brazil two days later and Cameroon on June 23, both in Lyon. Brazil is ranked first in the world by FIFA, Turkey seventh, the United States 10th and Cameroon 17th. Group A includes European champion France (ranked second), Japan (22nd), Colombia (37th) and New Zealand (49th). Also, Carlos Bocanegra and Chris Klein scored in a two-minute span early in the first half to lead the U.S. team 2-1 over regional rival Jamaica in an exhibition game. It was the Americans' first win at Kingston National Stadium since 1994.

TENNIS: Miami lawsuit dropped

Miami-Dade prosecutors dropped aggravated battery charges against a celebrity photographer and his wife who clashed with the bodyguard of Anna Kournikova while she dined with singer Enrique Iglesias on Aug. 19. The misdemeanor charges against Angel Mora, 42, and Celia Oliveira, 20, were dropped at the request of the bodyguard, Jerome Hall. Police reports said Oliveira bit Hall in the forearm and Mora struck him in the back of the head with his video camera.

SELES OUSTED: Defending champion Monica Seles of Sarasota fell in the second round of the Qatar Open in Doha, losing 7-5, 7-5 to wild card Lina Krasnoroutskaya. The 18-year-old Russian lost to Seles on Jan. 31 in Tokyo.

ET CETERA

AMERICA'S CUP: ESPN2 will broadcast the best-of-nine match between Alinghi of Switzerland and two-time defending champion Team New Zealand live from Auckland, New Zealand, beginning with Race 1 on Friday.

PREPS: LeBron James heads a list of 10 male finalists for the Atlanta Tipoff Club's Naismith Prep Basketball Player of the Year awards, to be presented April 11. Among the finalists for the female Naismith Award is Dorian Williams of Jacksonville.

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